Why don't tax dodgers ever go to jail?

NOVANEWS

Dear All,

HSBC has been caught helping the richest people in Britain dodge £millions in tax. There’s been the usual media fuss and hand-wringing from politicians. But so far not a single HSBC banker has been brought to justice. [1] Let’s try and change that.
We need to show that the public’s had enough, and demand all those engaged in these tax-dodging crimes face charges. A big petition now will help focus the debate on the big issue:those who commit banking and tax crimes should be prosecuted just like any other criminals.
Click here to sign the petition demanding HSBC tax dodgers face criminal charges:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/prosecute-hsbc
Time and again bankers and tax dodgers take money from the rest of us but escape prosecution. The government has known about the 1100 people who used HSBC to dodge tax for years. [2] But only one has been convicted – and none of the bankerswho helped them have been brought to justice. [3]
These dodged taxes could have helped pay for our NHS or schools. It’s just not right that whilst the rest of us pay our fair share to keep the country going, HSBC and their wealthy clients are allowed to play by different rules.
With politicians and tax dodgers so cosy, only public pressure can force prosecutions. So let’s get the petition past 100,000 this week – please sign now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/prosecute-hsbc
Thanks for being involved,
Nat, Bex, Maddy and the 38 Degrees team
PS. Here’s how one 38 Degrees member summed up the problem on Facebook: “For being four minutes late at a job centre you can lose your home and any money to feed your children. Help already well off people bury their money in secret accounts and you get a nice career in government and a peerage.” Enough’s enough – please sign the petition now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/prosecute-hsbc
NOTES:..
 
[1] BBC News: HSBC bank ‘helped clients dodge millions in tax’:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31248913
Guardian: Denials continue despite MPs hearing of HSBC tax evasion claims in 2011:
http://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/11/denials-continue-despite-mps-hearing-of-hsbc-tax-evasion-claims-in-2011
[2] The Financial Times: HSBC revelations are an invitation to prosecute:
“All of these factors — alongside the scale of the evasion revealed this week — swing the balance towards HMRC taking a more aggressive approach. Moreover, the value of a successful prosecution lies as much in the chill it casts over other would-be offenders, and may be much greater than the money directly raised. No one who commits a crime should be able to bargain for a pardon. For a long time British tax evaders felt they could relax once they reached the Alps. To puncture this illusion, more should face time in a criminal court for bilking other taxpayers.” 
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/16b34a80-b066-11e4-92b6-00144feab7de.html#axzz3RRstgURk
Daily Mail: Anger over ‘dirty deal’ which saw 1,100 UK holders of HSBC Swiss accounts dodge prosecution and how the bank’s boss walked into a top Government job:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2946926/Anger-dirty-deal-saw-1-100-UK-holders-HSBC-Swiss-accounts-dodge-prosecution-bank-s-boss-walked-Government-job.html
[3] Daily Mail: HSBC ‘tax dodge’ revelations are just tip of iceberg, says leaker:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-2945617/SwissLeaks-files-HSBC-helped-clients-dodge-tax.html